People dupe each other every other day. The iCloud lock has become one of the ways most people end up scammed online. It has given the online pre-owned iPhone market a bad rep, and most people now think twice before buying an iPhone online. However, it does not help the thousands of people trying to unlock iCloud lock account from their iPhones.

It never matters that you looked up an iPhone and even had an IMEI status check done before buying the phone. The iCloud lock scam is high up on the list of wrongs done against people. However, you can right any wrongdoing, and iCloud locked iPhones are removable.

Unlocking an iCloud lock means unlinking it from the account locking it. It may not be easy, but several methods can help you remove an iCloud lock screen.

The Dreaded iCloud Activation Lock

That lock screen that asks you to provide an Apple ID and password works as a security measure. However, the iCloud Activation Lock also works against people who innocently buy pre-owned iPhones. You cannot activate an iCloud locked iPhone and to use its functions/features before unlocking it.

When you receive the iPhone that you have always wanted in your hands; you will want to switch it on and start using it. When you find an activation lock screen asking you to provide an Apple ID and password, it becomes the beginning of your problems.

An iPhone with an iCloud lock could mean that either the original owner forgot to unlink it from their account. Alternatively, the previous owner placed it in Lost Mode after a theft. Also, it might just be an underhand deal by a scammer.

It might seem impossible to know any of these details, but an iPhone status check can reveal all this information.

With details about how an iPhone ended up with an iCloud lock, you can determine the best way to solve the problem. You will come across several sites offering iCloud unlock services, but not all of them work.

Unlock iCloud Lock Account with Details about an iPhone’s Particular State

Maybe before buying that locked iPhone, you had an IMEI check done. You must have used one of the free IME checkers online, because of the convenience. The iPhone check came out clean which helped you decide to buy the iPhone.

When the iPhone arrives, and you find out that it is locked, you realize that the free checker was not reliable. Many people come to this harsh realization too late, and it leaves them trying to unlock an iCloud lock account. Reputable and reliable check providers do not provide free services because like any other process it takes some effort meaning costs.

With a trustworthy IMEI check, you can find out the particular iPhone lock state. When it comes to iCloud locked iPhones it refers to:

Previous Owner’s iCloud Account Linked to the iPhone

How the activation lock screen appears identifies the different iCloud lock states. With a linked iCloud account state, you will encounter an activation screen asking for an Apple ID and password.

For such an iPhone, it only means that the previous owner might have forgotten to unlink it from their account. In fact, if the original owner unlinks the device from their iCloud account it can solve the problem. You have to contact them and talk them through the process if they do not know how to do it.

Possible problems could include not having the previous owner’s contact information. Most of the time, people who sell iPhones online may not be the actual owners of the devices. In the case of lost iPhones, such a conversation will be a difficult one, but it works as the only way to unlock iCloud lock account from your iPhone.

Locked/Stolen iCloud Lock State

Another iCloud lock state involves an iPhone including a message along with the activation screen. It implies that the previous owner lost the iPhone and they placed it in Lost Mode. The message includes details of an alternative number to reach the original iPhone owner.

The Cloud lock state also displays a message saying that the device is lost/stolen. After some time, if the previous owner does not get the iPhone back, they can erase its content through the iCloud website. Erasing the iPhone does not delete the iCloud lock, and it stays in place.

Like with the previous iCloud state, only the original iPhone owner can help you out. You could use a reputable iCloud ID service to retrieve the original owner’s contact details. Worth noting is that these services do not unlock iCloud lock account from iPhones.

Other Options if You Cannot Unlock iCloud Lock Account

To be honest, several iPhone users have tried all the available iCloud unlock methodsout there, and none works. Unlocking an iPhone relies on contracting the original owner and talking them into removing the device’s link to their iCloud account.

There is no need to lie that the numerous iCloud unlock solutions you find online will work. Some of them use illegal methods to trick the original owner to provide their iCloud account details. It becomes too much effort on your side and additional money spent that you should not have wasted.

You could also try to return the device to its original owner or strike a deal with them so that they can unlock it for you. Naturally, you must have bought the iPhone and can prove ownership for this option to work.

When all fails, try to recover back some of the money you spent on the iPhone. Sell it as a locked iPhone or for parts, and you can get some money out of it. Several people dedicate their time to attempt unlocking the iCloud lock, and they buy locked devices to give it a try.

It is never easy to make peace with the fact that you spent money on something you cannot use. The realization that you cannot get the money back is even more difficult. Your best option with unlocking an iCloud lock is to try the recommended options and cut your losses if everything fails.